Insects’ expansion dynamics in Siberia is studied by ASU entomologists

19 October 2015 Faculty of Biology

In 2014 and 2015 ASU entomologist, Doctor of Biology R.V. Yakovlev (co-authored with other entomologists from Novosibirsk and Barnaul) published two articles (both in foreign journals listed in Scopus and Web of Science) dedicated to changes in ranges of insects:

  • Yakovlev R.V., Kostyunin A.E. Range expansion of Apatura iris (Linnaeus, 1758) in Siberia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) // SHILAP Revista de lepidopterologia. 2015. Т. 43. № 170. P. 305-308
  • Yakovlev R., Naidenov A., Perunov Y., Artemiev R. First record of Apatura iris (Linnaeus, 1758) in Altai krai, Russia (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) // Entomologist's Gazette. 2014. Т. 65. № 1. P. 11-14

As a model big Nymphalidae butterfly the Purple Emperor (Apatura Iris) was taken, which is actively expanding to the east. It was not distributed in territories located further east than Tyumen 20 years ago; however, they have become common for Altai Krai and Kemerovo Oblast in 2015.

“The examples, when animal ranges change right in front of our eyes, occur a lot in the recent years, and we manage to record part of these dynamic conversions,” says Roman V. Yakovlev. “Foreign journals take an active interest in these processes, so we succeeded in publishing the two of our articles in major entomological journals – Spanish and British ones. We are glad that ASU entomologists’ efforts help the University gain the points in QS rankings every year.”

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